Phil Kennedy was the type who never met a stranger. While chatting with someone for the first time, it would indubitably be discovered they knew a person in common or were even related. His gregarious personality delighted in these reveals.
He loved music and could often be found volunteering downtown and at Jerryfest. If there was free music and/or food, Phil was there! He also followed sports and was a diehard Cardinals fan. A highlight was attending the 1982 World Series.
Phil took pleasure in sharing stories about growing up in a large family. His stories were humorous and sometimes true. He loved his family and was proud of them. He was always talking about them and enjoyed family gatherings.
Phil thought of others and would leave gifts on his co-workers’ desks. He had a mischievous side, too. Sometimes these gifts were just for his own amusement.
Phil worked at the Illinois State Museum for more than 30 years as an art preparator. He loved his job and excelled at it. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the museum’s art collection and was a creative problem solver. He took pride in his work and in sharing his knowledge with young people.
Co-workers and friends Amanda Bryden and Dannyl Dolder
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Remembering 2024
This article appears in Remembering 2024.
Thank you, Amanda and Dannyl, for this very fine homage to our dearly departed friend, good ol’ Phil. Such a complex personality is hard to capture in a short testimonial, as Phil was a man of many talents, with an excess of eccentricities, peculiarities and foibles like they don’t make ’em anymore. A boulevardier, a consummate amateur photographer, a comedian, a rock concert auteur, the life of the party, a patron of and laborer for a wide artistic community, an unrivalled honky-tonk habitue, an omnivorous collector, these and more are also some of the favorite memories his wide circle of loyal friends would call to mind at the news of his passing.
Your beautiful testimonial and so perfect photo would be a great delight to Phil.